Title

Title is a legal term for the rights to a piece of real estate that may be owned. There are a variety of rights on a properties title that can be owned, either by one party or by multiple parties.

In a real estate transaction, a title examination is done by searching the public records at the county recorder’s office. The history of sales of the property, mortgages against the property and outstanding liens like property taxes are discovered. In order to sell the property with a clear title, the seller must take actions to remove the items found on title that will impair the buyer’s use, ownership or enjoyment of the property.